Using resource mobilization aspects of social movement theory, we conceptualize the melding of pa... more Using resource mobilization aspects of social movement theory, we conceptualize the melding of patient self-management education led by community organizations, such as area agencies on aging and senior centers, into medical management of chronic conditions as an element of a social movement. According to the partial theory defined in the seminal work by McCarthy and Zald, resource mobilization 'examines the variety of resources that must be mobilized, the linkages of social movements to other groups, and dependence of movements upon external supports for success and the tactics used by authorities to control or incorporate movements.' In our frame, we identify community-based patient education and coaching as resources that can be mobilized to enhance patient outcomes and quality of life. We will describe the methods we used to create an interdisciplinary team that includes physicians, social workers, nurses, health educators, program designers, dieticians, outpatient practice administrators, and reimbursement specialists to design innovative models that incorporate patient engagement, activation, selfmanagement education, and coaching. We will present two models that emerged from this process.
Since 1997, the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research Program at the National Institute on... more Since 1997, the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research Program at the National Institute on Aging has been the model for training social and behavioral scientists in minority aging and health disparities research. The latest cycle of these Centers implemented a new structure for the analytic training of junior investigators and for advancing methodologic work relevant to improving the rigor of minority aging research. In this article, we describe the conceptual framework, logistical approaches, challenges, and lessons learned from our experience training junior investigators in methodology through the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research over the past 20 years, with the goal of informing future analytic training efforts for the next generation of scholars focused on minority aging issues.
Older African Americans' participation in health-related research is severely limited; they are n... more Older African Americans' participation in health-related research is severely limited; they are not involved in sufficient numbers to ensure the applicability of advancements in medical and behavioral health. This research participation gap exacerbates older African Americans' vulnerability to poor health outcomes and disparities. The Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research employs a progressive community-based participatory model that utilizes a structured community advisory board (CAB) of African American older adults in metro Detroit, Michigan to oversee the research recruitment and retention of fellow minority older adult research participants. CAB members develop and support community health programming that provides free resources to older adults and also serves as fertile ground for recruiting participants in a volunteer research registry. CAB members are also provided ongoing training on social and behavioral health research and are supported in acting as a consultancy to outside researchers where they can be compensated for their expertise and engagement. This community-engaged model of sustaining a CAB of African American older adults offers key lessons learned on building relationships and trust, valuing and leveraging community members' expertise and time, sharing decision-making, and fostering genuine community all while promoting research recruitment and retention among underserved populations.
Black men across the lifespan are overburdened by poor health and underrepresented as participant... more Black men across the lifespan are overburdened by poor health and underrepresented as participants in health research. The Flint Healthier Black Elders program seeks to engage more older Black men in research that could contribute to health discoveries by developing and testing strategies to recruit Black men into a community participant research pool (PRP). The PRP recruitment strategies account for the influence of gender role norms, mistrust derived from current and historical research and medical abuses, and other factors that affect older Black men’s willingness to participate in safe and ethical research. This initiative also focuses on building trust in research engagement by foregrounding the voices of local older men as community stakeholders and research gatekeepers, and tailoring multimedia recruitment materials to represent older Black men more fully and positively. Videos and print materials developed as recruitment tools specifically tailored to older Black men were pilot tested for messaging and impact, and the results of this community-driven process can serve as an innovative model for equitable and trustworthy research recruitment in Black communities. We would like to acknowledge the contributions of the Flint Healthier Black Elders Community Advisory Board: Yaushica Aubert, Rev. Dr. Sarah Bailey, E. Hill DeLoney, Luther Evans, Ella Greene-Moton, Cynthia Howell, Bishop Bernadel Jefferson, Beverly Lewis, Geraldine Redmond, Sharon Saddler, Arlene Sparks, Erica Thrash-Sall.
ObjectiveTo examine the preferred response mode (internet, phone, paper)to a Medicaid enrollee su... more ObjectiveTo examine the preferred response mode (internet, phone, paper)to a Medicaid enrollee survey.Data SourceData was obtained from survey responses for a sub-sample of Flint Water Crisis Medicaid Expansion Waiver enrollees (N=2584).Study DesignEnrollees were offered the choice of utilizing the internet, telephone, or mail to respond to a survey evaluating health services. Analyses were stratified by age, residency, race, and income. Chi-square was utilized to detect categorical differences.Principal FindingsThe majority (p<0.01) of participants responded by internet (55.46%), followed by mail (39.36%), and telephone (5.19%). Of those responding by internet, 75% used smart phones for connectivity. Weighted participation estimates for available survey modes showed variation by age, residence, race/ethnicity and poverty status. A smaller proportion (p<0.01) of ethnicities classified as Hispanic and Other used telephone participation compared to White or Black respondents.Res...
Resilience, an individual's ability to successfully adapt to adversity, is a multifaceted outcome... more Resilience, an individual's ability to successfully adapt to adversity, is a multifaceted outcome that may be affected by individual and community factors. A comprehensive examination of resilience by race and neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) among women aged 80+ is needed to better understand longevity in diverse populations. Women aged 80+ in 2011, in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study were included. Resilience was measured using the 3-item Brief Resilience Scale, with higher scores indicating better resiliency. Descriptive statistics and multivariable linear regression examined the association of demographic, psychosocial, and health variables with resilience by race (White, Black, Asian) and NSES. The majority of participants (n=29,367, median age=84.0) were non-Hispanic White (91.4%), and had multimorbidities (66%). There were no significant differences by race on mean resiliency scores (p=0.06). Mean resilience was higher among women with higher NSES (low NSES=3.94±0.83, moderate NSES=3.95±0.82, high NSES=4.00±0.81; p< 0.001). Optimism (p< 0.001), social support (p< 0.01), and physical/mental symptom burden (p< 0.05) were significant correlates of resilience among Asian, Black, and White women. Self-rated health (p< 0.001), depressive symptoms (p< 0.001), optimism (p< 0.001), social support (p< 0.001), physical/mental symptom burden (p< 0.001), and body mass index (p< 0.001) were significant correlates of resilience across women with low, moderate, and high NSES. Age was significantly associated with resilience among women with moderate (β=-0.004, p=0.019) and high NSES (β=-0.005, p=0.045). This study found several common correlates of resilience across race and NSES among women aged 80+ in the WHI. Future research to enhance resilience, such as through psychosocial and behavioral interventions, is warranted.
Resilience, an individual's ability to successfully adapt to adversity, is a multifaceted outcome... more Resilience, an individual's ability to successfully adapt to adversity, is a multifaceted outcome that may be affected by individual and community factors. A comprehensive examination of resilience by race and neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) among women aged 80+ is needed to better understand longevity in diverse populations. Women aged 80+ in 2011, in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study were included. Resilience was measured using the 3-item Brief Resilience Scale, with higher scores indicating better resiliency. Descriptive statistics and multivariable linear regression examined the association of demographic, psychosocial, and health variables with resilience by race (White, Black, Asian) and NSES. The majority of participants (n=29,367, median age=84.0) were non-Hispanic White (91.4%), and had multimorbidities (66%). There were no significant differences by race on mean resiliency scores (p=0.06). Mean resilience was higher among women with higher NSES (low NSES=3.94±0.83, moderate NSES=3.95±0.82, high NSES=4.00±0.81; p< 0.001). Optimism (p< 0.001), social support (p< 0.01), and physical/mental symptom burden (p< 0.05) were significant correlates of resilience among Asian, Black, and White women. Self-rated health (p< 0.001), depressive symptoms (p< 0.001), optimism (p< 0.001), social support (p< 0.001), physical/mental symptom burden (p< 0.001), and body mass index (p< 0.001) were significant correlates of resilience across women with low, moderate, and high NSES. Age was significantly associated with resilience among women with moderate (β=-0.004, p=0.019) and high NSES (β=-0.005, p=0.045). This study found several common correlates of resilience across race and NSES among women aged 80+ in the WHI. Future research to enhance resilience, such as through psychosocial and behavioral interventions, is warranted.
The aging population and shortage of primary care physicians lead to increasing gaps in access to... more The aging population and shortage of primary care physicians lead to increasing gaps in access to rural geriatric healthcare. Of concern is the lack of access to geriatric expertise, leading to adverse effects on rural older adults’ health outcomes and quality of life. The Geriatric Rural Extension of Expertise through Telegeriatric Services (also known as GREETS) project surveyed rural physical and behavioral healthcare practitioners to identify gaps in geriatric competencies in the rural workforce. Using the Qualtrics platform, a survey was distributed to professional membership lists throughout the State of Michigan. A total of 106 responses were completed, of which 50 were from respondents who identified their profession as a social worker. As would be expected based on social workers’ scope of practice and the settings in which they provide services, social worker respondents noted a higher need than the other practitioner respondents for education related to (a) managing chron...
Medical residents need training to assess social determinants of health (SDOH) related to chronic... more Medical residents need training to assess social determinants of health (SDOH) related to chronic conditions. We created a checklist to identify SDOH affecting residency clinic patients’ ability to manage chronic conditions. The tool: 1) involves resident training; 2) provides decision support checklist; 3) influences patient activation; and 4) increases provider and patient communication through shared decision making. Action Planning Guide checklist (APG) includes questions pertaining to SDOH preventing patients from managing their chronic conditions and actions patients will take. Areas identified are discussed between patient and resident, increasing patient activation. The clinic’s nurse care facilitator guides referrals to community-based resources. Fifty-two patients were enrolled, with 75% of patients responding they would like to be better managers of their chronic conditions. This information is used to develop patient’s goals of care. Over 90% of patients said their condi...
Early during the pandemic, access to food by residents across the lifespan was problematic in man... more Early during the pandemic, access to food by residents across the lifespan was problematic in many communities. We observed well-intentioned responses by community organizations but a lack of centralized coordination across sectors, even as donations and resources significantly increased. Most of the organizations were in various sectors and not aware of the efforts and capabilities of others causing duplication or gaps in services. To prepare for future emergencies, our team created a project to develop and pilot a user-friendly, evidence-based roadmap to guide communities through the process of developing and sustaining effective collaborative partnerships for food and nutrition-related problems they could address together. We will describe the process through which we developed the roadmap structure and recruited stakeholders and content experts for our advisory board. To determine the effectiveness of our interventions, we designed methods with which we can analyze the organizat...
Gaps exist in training medical residents to assess social determinants of health (SDOH) related t... more Gaps exist in training medical residents to assess social determinants of health (SDOH) related to chronic conditions. To address the need for better screening, we partnered with two Internal Medicine (IM) residency programs based in Lansing and Flint (Michigan) to pilot the Caring for Patients with Chronic Conditions (CPCC) project. IM residencies train internists with expertise in diagnosis, treating chronic conditions, promoting health through wellness education, and preventing and managing diseases. CPCC incorporated information during didactic sessions that residents could apply during their clinical activities that can influence their current and future clinical practice patterns. Presentations and panels from local community organizations on specific topics were incorporated into the curriculum that address needs of patients age 50 and older. To build on this education, the residents adapted the Office- Guidelines Applied in Practice (Office-GAP) checklist to identify SDOH af...
Older adults and individuals with disabilities face transportation challenges on a daily basis th... more Older adults and individuals with disabilities face transportation challenges on a daily basis that differ from the general population. Transportation is critical to all aspects of quality of life yet presents significant challenges. Lack of appropriate vehicles, reliable public transportation, and the high-cost of vehicle ownership lead to missed healthcare appointments, lack of access to proper nutrition, and social isolation. The purpose of the study was to provide information for the Commission on Services to the Aging. It was necessitated by the lack of existing data from the Department of Transportation because Michigan’s transportation systems are locally controlled. An online questionnaire was emailed to public and private organizations serving older adults and people with disabilities to determine transportation services currently available in their geographic areas and innovative solutions employed to address barriers. The questionnaire was adapted from the National Center...
Older adults in rural communities need access to comprehensive healthcare services provided by pr... more Older adults in rural communities need access to comprehensive healthcare services provided by practitioners equipped with geriatric knowledge and skills. The Geriatric Rural Extension of Expertise through Telegeriatric Service (GREETS) project goal is to use telemedicine and telehealth to expand geriatric service options to underserved Michigan regions. GREETS educational programs train health practitioners to provide geriatric care for vulnerable older adults. To determine gaps in geriatric competencies, the team conducted an online survey of health professionals including behavioral health practitioners. Respondents identified educational topics and preferred virtual delivery methods. Demographic information included respondent’s professional position, practice setting, and county. The respondents were asked to indicate level of educational need using a scale ranging from a low, medium, or high need. Fifty (47%) of 106 total responses were from social workers. We compared the per...
The Partners in Aging Strategies and Training (PAST) project employed a bilateral approach to edu... more The Partners in Aging Strategies and Training (PAST) project employed a bilateral approach to educate both healthcare professionals and consumers. Our theory is that improved health outcomes are attained by teaching healthcare providers and consumers how to engage better with each other, especially when consumers use the skills learned in community-based programs, such as self-management and healthy lifestyle choices. PAST activities provided an integrated educational program for healthcare providers and older adult patients, their families and caregivers to learn skills that enhance their ability to form productive patient-provider partnerships. We used three types of training: 1) multi-disciplinary health professions and primary care provider continuing-education face-to-face workshops and webinars; 2) older adult patient and caregiver workshops, resource materials; and 3) reverse marketing comprised of sending information to physicians whose patients attended a workshop that incl...
Using resource mobilization aspects of social movement theory, we conceptualize the melding of pa... more Using resource mobilization aspects of social movement theory, we conceptualize the melding of patient self-management education led by community organizations, such as area agencies on aging and senior centers, into medical management of chronic conditions as an element of a social movement. According to the partial theory defined in the seminal work by McCarthy and Zald, resource mobilization 'examines the variety of resources that must be mobilized, the linkages of social movements to other groups, and dependence of movements upon external supports for success and the tactics used by authorities to control or incorporate movements.' In our frame, we identify community-based patient education and coaching as resources that can be mobilized to enhance patient outcomes and quality of life. We will describe the methods we used to create an interdisciplinary team that includes physicians, social workers, nurses, health educators, program designers, dieticians, outpatient practice administrators, and reimbursement specialists to design innovative models that incorporate patient engagement, activation, selfmanagement education, and coaching. We will present two models that emerged from this process.
Since 1997, the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research Program at the National Institute on... more Since 1997, the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research Program at the National Institute on Aging has been the model for training social and behavioral scientists in minority aging and health disparities research. The latest cycle of these Centers implemented a new structure for the analytic training of junior investigators and for advancing methodologic work relevant to improving the rigor of minority aging research. In this article, we describe the conceptual framework, logistical approaches, challenges, and lessons learned from our experience training junior investigators in methodology through the Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research over the past 20 years, with the goal of informing future analytic training efforts for the next generation of scholars focused on minority aging issues.
Older African Americans' participation in health-related research is severely limited; they are n... more Older African Americans' participation in health-related research is severely limited; they are not involved in sufficient numbers to ensure the applicability of advancements in medical and behavioral health. This research participation gap exacerbates older African Americans' vulnerability to poor health outcomes and disparities. The Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research employs a progressive community-based participatory model that utilizes a structured community advisory board (CAB) of African American older adults in metro Detroit, Michigan to oversee the research recruitment and retention of fellow minority older adult research participants. CAB members develop and support community health programming that provides free resources to older adults and also serves as fertile ground for recruiting participants in a volunteer research registry. CAB members are also provided ongoing training on social and behavioral health research and are supported in acting as a consultancy to outside researchers where they can be compensated for their expertise and engagement. This community-engaged model of sustaining a CAB of African American older adults offers key lessons learned on building relationships and trust, valuing and leveraging community members' expertise and time, sharing decision-making, and fostering genuine community all while promoting research recruitment and retention among underserved populations.
Black men across the lifespan are overburdened by poor health and underrepresented as participant... more Black men across the lifespan are overburdened by poor health and underrepresented as participants in health research. The Flint Healthier Black Elders program seeks to engage more older Black men in research that could contribute to health discoveries by developing and testing strategies to recruit Black men into a community participant research pool (PRP). The PRP recruitment strategies account for the influence of gender role norms, mistrust derived from current and historical research and medical abuses, and other factors that affect older Black men’s willingness to participate in safe and ethical research. This initiative also focuses on building trust in research engagement by foregrounding the voices of local older men as community stakeholders and research gatekeepers, and tailoring multimedia recruitment materials to represent older Black men more fully and positively. Videos and print materials developed as recruitment tools specifically tailored to older Black men were pilot tested for messaging and impact, and the results of this community-driven process can serve as an innovative model for equitable and trustworthy research recruitment in Black communities. We would like to acknowledge the contributions of the Flint Healthier Black Elders Community Advisory Board: Yaushica Aubert, Rev. Dr. Sarah Bailey, E. Hill DeLoney, Luther Evans, Ella Greene-Moton, Cynthia Howell, Bishop Bernadel Jefferson, Beverly Lewis, Geraldine Redmond, Sharon Saddler, Arlene Sparks, Erica Thrash-Sall.
ObjectiveTo examine the preferred response mode (internet, phone, paper)to a Medicaid enrollee su... more ObjectiveTo examine the preferred response mode (internet, phone, paper)to a Medicaid enrollee survey.Data SourceData was obtained from survey responses for a sub-sample of Flint Water Crisis Medicaid Expansion Waiver enrollees (N=2584).Study DesignEnrollees were offered the choice of utilizing the internet, telephone, or mail to respond to a survey evaluating health services. Analyses were stratified by age, residency, race, and income. Chi-square was utilized to detect categorical differences.Principal FindingsThe majority (p<0.01) of participants responded by internet (55.46%), followed by mail (39.36%), and telephone (5.19%). Of those responding by internet, 75% used smart phones for connectivity. Weighted participation estimates for available survey modes showed variation by age, residence, race/ethnicity and poverty status. A smaller proportion (p<0.01) of ethnicities classified as Hispanic and Other used telephone participation compared to White or Black respondents.Res...
Resilience, an individual's ability to successfully adapt to adversity, is a multifaceted outcome... more Resilience, an individual's ability to successfully adapt to adversity, is a multifaceted outcome that may be affected by individual and community factors. A comprehensive examination of resilience by race and neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) among women aged 80+ is needed to better understand longevity in diverse populations. Women aged 80+ in 2011, in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study were included. Resilience was measured using the 3-item Brief Resilience Scale, with higher scores indicating better resiliency. Descriptive statistics and multivariable linear regression examined the association of demographic, psychosocial, and health variables with resilience by race (White, Black, Asian) and NSES. The majority of participants (n=29,367, median age=84.0) were non-Hispanic White (91.4%), and had multimorbidities (66%). There were no significant differences by race on mean resiliency scores (p=0.06). Mean resilience was higher among women with higher NSES (low NSES=3.94±0.83, moderate NSES=3.95±0.82, high NSES=4.00±0.81; p< 0.001). Optimism (p< 0.001), social support (p< 0.01), and physical/mental symptom burden (p< 0.05) were significant correlates of resilience among Asian, Black, and White women. Self-rated health (p< 0.001), depressive symptoms (p< 0.001), optimism (p< 0.001), social support (p< 0.001), physical/mental symptom burden (p< 0.001), and body mass index (p< 0.001) were significant correlates of resilience across women with low, moderate, and high NSES. Age was significantly associated with resilience among women with moderate (β=-0.004, p=0.019) and high NSES (β=-0.005, p=0.045). This study found several common correlates of resilience across race and NSES among women aged 80+ in the WHI. Future research to enhance resilience, such as through psychosocial and behavioral interventions, is warranted.
Resilience, an individual's ability to successfully adapt to adversity, is a multifaceted outcome... more Resilience, an individual's ability to successfully adapt to adversity, is a multifaceted outcome that may be affected by individual and community factors. A comprehensive examination of resilience by race and neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) among women aged 80+ is needed to better understand longevity in diverse populations. Women aged 80+ in 2011, in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study were included. Resilience was measured using the 3-item Brief Resilience Scale, with higher scores indicating better resiliency. Descriptive statistics and multivariable linear regression examined the association of demographic, psychosocial, and health variables with resilience by race (White, Black, Asian) and NSES. The majority of participants (n=29,367, median age=84.0) were non-Hispanic White (91.4%), and had multimorbidities (66%). There were no significant differences by race on mean resiliency scores (p=0.06). Mean resilience was higher among women with higher NSES (low NSES=3.94±0.83, moderate NSES=3.95±0.82, high NSES=4.00±0.81; p< 0.001). Optimism (p< 0.001), social support (p< 0.01), and physical/mental symptom burden (p< 0.05) were significant correlates of resilience among Asian, Black, and White women. Self-rated health (p< 0.001), depressive symptoms (p< 0.001), optimism (p< 0.001), social support (p< 0.001), physical/mental symptom burden (p< 0.001), and body mass index (p< 0.001) were significant correlates of resilience across women with low, moderate, and high NSES. Age was significantly associated with resilience among women with moderate (β=-0.004, p=0.019) and high NSES (β=-0.005, p=0.045). This study found several common correlates of resilience across race and NSES among women aged 80+ in the WHI. Future research to enhance resilience, such as through psychosocial and behavioral interventions, is warranted.
The aging population and shortage of primary care physicians lead to increasing gaps in access to... more The aging population and shortage of primary care physicians lead to increasing gaps in access to rural geriatric healthcare. Of concern is the lack of access to geriatric expertise, leading to adverse effects on rural older adults’ health outcomes and quality of life. The Geriatric Rural Extension of Expertise through Telegeriatric Services (also known as GREETS) project surveyed rural physical and behavioral healthcare practitioners to identify gaps in geriatric competencies in the rural workforce. Using the Qualtrics platform, a survey was distributed to professional membership lists throughout the State of Michigan. A total of 106 responses were completed, of which 50 were from respondents who identified their profession as a social worker. As would be expected based on social workers’ scope of practice and the settings in which they provide services, social worker respondents noted a higher need than the other practitioner respondents for education related to (a) managing chron...
Medical residents need training to assess social determinants of health (SDOH) related to chronic... more Medical residents need training to assess social determinants of health (SDOH) related to chronic conditions. We created a checklist to identify SDOH affecting residency clinic patients’ ability to manage chronic conditions. The tool: 1) involves resident training; 2) provides decision support checklist; 3) influences patient activation; and 4) increases provider and patient communication through shared decision making. Action Planning Guide checklist (APG) includes questions pertaining to SDOH preventing patients from managing their chronic conditions and actions patients will take. Areas identified are discussed between patient and resident, increasing patient activation. The clinic’s nurse care facilitator guides referrals to community-based resources. Fifty-two patients were enrolled, with 75% of patients responding they would like to be better managers of their chronic conditions. This information is used to develop patient’s goals of care. Over 90% of patients said their condi...
Early during the pandemic, access to food by residents across the lifespan was problematic in man... more Early during the pandemic, access to food by residents across the lifespan was problematic in many communities. We observed well-intentioned responses by community organizations but a lack of centralized coordination across sectors, even as donations and resources significantly increased. Most of the organizations were in various sectors and not aware of the efforts and capabilities of others causing duplication or gaps in services. To prepare for future emergencies, our team created a project to develop and pilot a user-friendly, evidence-based roadmap to guide communities through the process of developing and sustaining effective collaborative partnerships for food and nutrition-related problems they could address together. We will describe the process through which we developed the roadmap structure and recruited stakeholders and content experts for our advisory board. To determine the effectiveness of our interventions, we designed methods with which we can analyze the organizat...
Gaps exist in training medical residents to assess social determinants of health (SDOH) related t... more Gaps exist in training medical residents to assess social determinants of health (SDOH) related to chronic conditions. To address the need for better screening, we partnered with two Internal Medicine (IM) residency programs based in Lansing and Flint (Michigan) to pilot the Caring for Patients with Chronic Conditions (CPCC) project. IM residencies train internists with expertise in diagnosis, treating chronic conditions, promoting health through wellness education, and preventing and managing diseases. CPCC incorporated information during didactic sessions that residents could apply during their clinical activities that can influence their current and future clinical practice patterns. Presentations and panels from local community organizations on specific topics were incorporated into the curriculum that address needs of patients age 50 and older. To build on this education, the residents adapted the Office- Guidelines Applied in Practice (Office-GAP) checklist to identify SDOH af...
Older adults and individuals with disabilities face transportation challenges on a daily basis th... more Older adults and individuals with disabilities face transportation challenges on a daily basis that differ from the general population. Transportation is critical to all aspects of quality of life yet presents significant challenges. Lack of appropriate vehicles, reliable public transportation, and the high-cost of vehicle ownership lead to missed healthcare appointments, lack of access to proper nutrition, and social isolation. The purpose of the study was to provide information for the Commission on Services to the Aging. It was necessitated by the lack of existing data from the Department of Transportation because Michigan’s transportation systems are locally controlled. An online questionnaire was emailed to public and private organizations serving older adults and people with disabilities to determine transportation services currently available in their geographic areas and innovative solutions employed to address barriers. The questionnaire was adapted from the National Center...
Older adults in rural communities need access to comprehensive healthcare services provided by pr... more Older adults in rural communities need access to comprehensive healthcare services provided by practitioners equipped with geriatric knowledge and skills. The Geriatric Rural Extension of Expertise through Telegeriatric Service (GREETS) project goal is to use telemedicine and telehealth to expand geriatric service options to underserved Michigan regions. GREETS educational programs train health practitioners to provide geriatric care for vulnerable older adults. To determine gaps in geriatric competencies, the team conducted an online survey of health professionals including behavioral health practitioners. Respondents identified educational topics and preferred virtual delivery methods. Demographic information included respondent’s professional position, practice setting, and county. The respondents were asked to indicate level of educational need using a scale ranging from a low, medium, or high need. Fifty (47%) of 106 total responses were from social workers. We compared the per...
The Partners in Aging Strategies and Training (PAST) project employed a bilateral approach to edu... more The Partners in Aging Strategies and Training (PAST) project employed a bilateral approach to educate both healthcare professionals and consumers. Our theory is that improved health outcomes are attained by teaching healthcare providers and consumers how to engage better with each other, especially when consumers use the skills learned in community-based programs, such as self-management and healthy lifestyle choices. PAST activities provided an integrated educational program for healthcare providers and older adult patients, their families and caregivers to learn skills that enhance their ability to form productive patient-provider partnerships. We used three types of training: 1) multi-disciplinary health professions and primary care provider continuing-education face-to-face workshops and webinars; 2) older adult patient and caregiver workshops, resource materials; and 3) reverse marketing comprised of sending information to physicians whose patients attended a workshop that incl...
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